Saturday Inspiration: In Your Arms by Kina Grannis

I  seriously HEART Kina Grannis. I think she's just gorgeous and so talented. I could listen to her sing all day long....her covers always give off a heart-on-a-string edge with her vocals (My favorites are her cover of Demi Lovato's Skyscraper and Fast Car with Boyce Avenue) but some of her original songs just slaaaaaaay me (Like Valentine and The Way You Are). She has this talent of taking everything a girl's heart feels and painting a picture of  the angst, the heart palpitations, the joy that you feel when the one you love is nearby.

In Your Arms is no exception. Simple lyrics but a beautiful melody.

Not only is this song adorable...but the video is amazing.

So if you were left thinking "WOW, how did they do that, get ready for even more amazing with watching the Behind the Scenes of the MV using jelly bean art!

Enjoy your weekend!

M is for Monday

...and muffin as well as music...

Do you ever have one of those mornings when you cannot get up, get going, and get on your way? That was so me this morning. Even the emergency coffeestop (loooove McDonalds McCafe) didn't do the trick.

But its the magical combination of some inspiring (and just plain catchy) tunes and a homemade apple muffin that is making my least favorite morning more bearable.

Sometimes music just does that for you, ya know? Enjoy some songs that have been in rotation in on my iphone lately:

Hope you have a happy Monday!

The Cutest Proposal {thus far.}

 When two of the cutest/funniest people get together, would you really expect anything less?

{It's a bit long but well worth it. Seriously, this will make your day.}

 Congratulations Ed and Cindy and thanks for sharing your joy with the rest of the world! 

craftyinspiration: Kristin's bridal shower

I take birthday parties very seriously. When I think about the guest of honor a theme will always come to mind...my little circle of friends have enjoyed some good good times - we've had hoedowns, parkdays, scavenger hunts, cow parties, international feasts and so many more. It is a PLEASURE of mine to come up with decorating ideas and sometimes even costumes.

But bridal showers are a whole other level. In planning one for my college roommate, Kristin, I realized that to me, bridal showers are like the ultimate birthday party. It's a time of honoring a loved lady and to incorporate things that she would enjoy in all aspects....from food, to theme, decorations, and of course invitations.

So I have to admit...I had been storing pictures on my harddrive in anticipation for about six months (well, maybe longer....). To me, an inspiration board turns into a roadmap to aid with creating the perfect shower for our very simple nature girl turned bride-to-be. This bride to be who taught me so many cool things (knitting, climbing trees, crocadile hunting, how to make milk tea, British culture, wallace&gromit) and is not your typical girl.

One of our favorite past times in college was hosting tea parties. But i'm not talking about ladies in foofy flouncy dresses with oversized hats drinking tea with their pinkies in the air. We grubbed on tea sandwiches and enjoyed scones smeared with lemon curd as we sat on the shag rug and laughed boisterously with our guests. No, a traditional tea party would not do. So I thought of the perfect twist....why not a tree party?

Enjoy my inspiration board for now, and look forward to the real day-of photos to come next week. :)

goooo lakers

NBA Finals game 6 tonight....
keepin' the Laker love alive!
lets do this. :)

OH my mother.

Hear ye, hear ye:

MOTHER's DAY IS COMING SOON. MAY 9th.

{Consider this your official announcement}.

So here's the truth about me...I am both a GREAT and horrible gift giver. I am great because I always want to give a gift that I think the receiver will like and be touched by - but horrible because when I don't have that PERFECT gift in mind, it either ends up being really late or never showing up at all. :/

But considering how patient my mom  has been with me this year, I really don't want to be late in showing her how much I do appreciate her. To mix it up on the blog with all the wedding posts (there are SEVERAL more to come, if you can believe it), I thought I would put together some inspiration for creative and lovely Mother's Day gifts. Just imagine me, as your personal shopper! Hope it's helpful :).

{Apothecary Jar No. 53 } by blithegardens

I am intrigued by these little terrariums on etsy...Being a foresty kind of gal, I liked them simple and imagine it lookin' lovely on a bookshelf or a coffeetable.

Year after year I always find myself passing by the jewelry counters but nothing ever seems to strike me as being right for her - plus I hear her in my head saying "Save your money - I don't need to wear anything like that."  But I don't think you can lose with simple and classy jewelry....that is definitely afforable!

celadon necklace by elephantine

Vine Wire Hoops earrings ($54), Viceroy necklace ($50) & three disc necklace ($62) by Gorjana

Lotus stud earrings ($22) and Cubic zirconia vintage earrings ($24) from Banana Republic

Carming and versatile...and easy to pick up directly at the mall in case you still haven't picked anything out the day before you go see your mom!

Along the lines of jewelry, purses/clutches/bags and scarves can be a thoughtful gift... sometimes I see a bag and I think its cute but would not actually buy something impractical for myself. However, sometimes those make the great gifts.

Foldover canvas tote ($39) and Reversible Market tote ($15) both from Gap

Modular Messenger in Mustard ($35) by bayanhippo

When I think about the things Mom tried to instill me, writing thank you notes is at the top of that list. Oh how inspired and eager I would be if I had some pretty stationary... and what a lovely gift that would be.

Letterpress greetings (3 pack variety - $12) by pearlmarmalade

Letterpressed circle notecards ($25) by chatham & caron

Rust Vintage Lace Letterpress cards set and  Calla Lilies (both $15) by Pistachio Press

Some fun for the cookin' mamas (which my mom most definitely is):

(how much exactly IS a pinch? These spoons can tell you!)

Odd Size Measuring Spoons {$12.50} at Spoon sisters

Flowerist measuring cups {$36}, Provencal cookie jar {$28} and Sewing Basket Apron {$38} all from Anthropologie

Over the years, its been fun building my mom's library in Christian living. These books in particular are some of my favorite volumes, several of which have really transformed my mind to see what being a wife and mother are from God's perspective.

1. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

2. Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

3. Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney

4. Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper

5. Because he Loves Me by Elise Fitzpatrick

6. Twelve Extraordinary Women by John Macarthur

So, to all the mom's out there....thanks for doing a great job - and hope that you have a blessed day!

Stop....and go {some thursday inspiration}

In addition to photo, I really enjoy video! (I am a youtube fiend on days with spare time!) As a digital arts student in college, I think the one room I spent the most time in at the end of my college career was the video lab. There are a ton of links of cute and inspiring videos that I watch on sunny and rainy days.
Particularly Stop-motion has really started to become prevalent these days. Here are some of my favorite stop-motion videos:

A supercute save-the-date:

press play... from tim and jane on Vimeo.

I want some cake now.

Angela Kohler directed some of the most popular stop-motion commercials in advertising recently....I think she did this one for fun and she used one of my favorite singers as an actress in it!

...and this last one. Actually this video inspired my post. The English Muse is a design/lifestyle blog that I very much enjoy reading. Tina has had a wildly unfortunately year including changes like losing her job at the LA times and having to move out of their bungalow and other changes with their family. Today though, she posted about how her 11 year old daughter is her hero. Her 11 year old daughter made the decision to switch schools to help their family's situation...and she made a stop-motion video about moving.
As someone who also will be packing her boxes in a little less than 2 months, I appreciate the sentiment.

Hope you're inspired. I am. :)

under the stars....

...you can always find love.

monday inspiration

http://www.youaremyfave.com/

the talented & creative cathie hong

oh, hello friend

joy ever after

guessing this is from snippet & ink

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/

{frolic!}

catching up from the weekend blogs...so gorgeous & inspiring that it makes me want to:

• learn how to letterpress


• go pick some flowers


• spend an afternoon in a treehouse


• practice calligraphy
  
• bake some muffins to take to my neighbors

But it is another week to glorify God in all that we do...

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory
forever. Amen. {rom. 11:35-36}

Have a good one!

psalm 119:105

www.courtlynnphoto.blogspot.com, originally uploaded by Courtney Lynn.

m.o.h.

Jen's Bridal Shower, originally uploaded by Courtney Lynn.

I was so proud of her after she gave a speech honoring Jen at the wedding on saturday. :)

disneyland through my eyes

Put this one here simply for the sisters expression.

I am IN LOVE with this room.